and the Prosperity of the Wicked.
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derstand why this just man was poor, and that wicked man rich; why that pious woman was persecuted, and had to spend her days in weeping in the bitterness of her heart, while that vain worldling abounded in pleasures; why, in a word, Thy servants have to weep and mourn here, while Thy enemies rejoice and make merry; then shall we see that all this has been arranged and permitted by Thee for most just reasons.
And hence we must not complain of it.
Such, my dear brethren, should be the tenor of our thoughts in circumstances which to our weak understandings appear strange and incomprehensible, so that we may be always undisturbed and content with the will of God. Many other mysteries still more difficult of comprehension are proposed to me by our faith: for instance, the Blessed Trinity of Persons in one Nature, and that there is one only God in the three Persons; that Jesus Christ is here present in His own house in the smallest particle of a consecrated Host. How can such things be? is the question that my understanding sometimes asks. I cannot comprehend it. But is my not understanding it a reason for saying that it is not true, or for wavering in my faith? God forbid! I need only say to myself: God has said it; and then I can at once conclude with certainty that it must be true. Now I am just as certain that God cannot ordain anything that is not right and just as He cannot say anything that is not true. Therefore when I sometimes feel an inclination to bitterness of spirit on considering the prosperity of the wicked and the trials of the just, and am not able to explain the cause of either, must I then murmur and say that an injustice has been committed? May God preserve me from such thoughts! I should rather at once say to myself: God has so ordered it; it is His will; therefore it must be good, right, and just. I am satisfied with Thy will, O Lord! Thou art most just and givest to each one whatever he has; Thou art most provident and givest to each one what Thou knowest to be most fitting for him; Thou art most holy, and dost nothing without good reason. I do not understand some things, but I do not want to understand- them here; I can wait till I come to Thee in heaven, where I shall see everything in its cause, that is, in Thee, O God, “and understand concerning their last ends.” The world then may rejoice, while I mourn with Thy servants; let it laugh while I weep; let it abound in wealth, while I suffer poverty; let it live in pleasure, while I endure crosses and trials. I do not complain; I will be